A rally calling for marriage equality in Northern Ireland will take place on June 13 in Writers Square, Belfast starting at 2.30pm.

The move comes following the successful ‘yes’ vote for same-sex marriages in the Republic of Ireland.

Northern Ireland’s largest support organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender people and their families, The Rainbow Project, welcomed the vote in the Republic.

John O’Doherty, director of The Rainbow Project, said: “We are all simply elated at this stunning, landslide victory for our sisters and brothers in the Republic.

“They have brought Ireland on a journey of acceptance and they have done so with grace, compassion and good humour.

‘The Rainbow Project extend our heartfelt congratulations to our partners and friends in Yes Equality, GLEN, Belong To, Amnesty International and all of the groups and individuals who have worked tirelessly to secure this important victory.

“You have done what no other country in the world has done. You have chosen, as a nation, to extend marriage rights to your LGBT family, friends and neighbours and this will go down in history as another example of the decency and fairness of the Irish people.

“However, for us, this sweet victory is tinged with sadness.

“Northern Ireland is now the only region in western Europe where marriage equality is not a reality.

“This is a shameful injustice which cannot be allowed to continue.

‘To highlight this injustice, The Rainbow Project and our partners in Amnesty International and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions have announced a march and rally for marriage equality to be held in Belfast on Saturday, June 13, assembling at Writers’ Square for 2.30pm.

“We will continue our fight to ensure that equality becomes a reality for all the peoples of these islands.”